A top doctor has blasted the Taoiseach’s decision to splash cash on the new Metro Link when he can’t fix the mental health crisis.

President of the College of Psychiatrists, Dr John Hillery, revealed that he has packed in the top job, insisting that the current system is “shambolic”.

This scathing criticism comes just after a Junior Minister bragged about hiring new psychiatrists to ease the burden on the scandal-hit service.

Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Jim Daly, said: “The number of children waiting for services should now fall further as these posts, which have a geographical spread, start to make an impact on access times for services.”

But Dr Hillery insists it’s too little too late and he has now resigned after 30 years.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)

Dr. John Hillery President of the Medical Council speaks to the media during a press conference, Tuesday 21 February 2006 to outline new auditing procedures for doctors in Dublin. (Image: Niall Carson/PA)

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In the keynote address at Monday's Family Carers Ireland conference in Dublin, he said: “It may be that there is no money for these issues. “However, if that is so why is there money for less important issues such as Metro Link?”

He says kids are suffering because of failed policies.

“One example of this is the way young people with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour lose their respite and sometimes other services once they leave school.”

Last week three consultant child psychiatrists in Waterford and Wexford resigned, citing burnout.

Fianna Fail mental health spokesman and Wexford TD, James Browne, said: “I don’t blame consultants like Kieran Moore (one of the doctors resigning), they are in an impossible situation.

“The system is under so much pressure that they have to decide which child is more deserving of getting the support they need.”

“The College of Psychiatrists asked for a 10% increase in specialist training, but the government would only give 5%, that equates with only three extra places on the programme.

“Dr Hillery was extremely frustrated by this.”

The Department of Health issued a statement earlier this month announcing that a recruitment drive is “nearing completion, and that almost all posts have now been filled.”

They are hiring 114 Assistant Psychologists, who will work under supervision of qualified professionals, and 20 fully registered psychologists.

Minister Daly claims the move will make inroads in tackling the crisis but critics say it is just a drop in the ocean.

Waterford senator, Grace O’Sullivan, speaking in the Seanad, said: “Currently there are 500 places unfilled nationally, with a staggering 26 psychiatric nursing positions vacant in the South East region.

“This issue is of extreme importance and urgency. For many young people, this could be a life or death issue.”